05.G Respiratory Protection.
05.G.01 General.
The use of respirators is required when occupational exposure levels exceed OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) or ACGIH TLVs, and engineering or administrative exposure controls are not feasible to implement.
05.G.02
The employer may allow the voluntary use of respirators, such as a filtering face pieces (nuisance dust masks) in atmospheres that are not hazardous. Prior to use of the voluntary respirators, the respirator must be evaluated and approved by the respiratory program administrator to ensure that its use will in itself not create a hazard. The employee must be instructed in the limitations of the respirator and the correct method of wearing and using the respirator.
05.G.03 Written Respiratory Protection Program.
A written respiratory protection program must be developed and implemented when respirators are used.
- All employees using respirators, with the exception of employees voluntarily using only filtering face pieces (NIOSH-approved dust masks), must be included in the respiratory protection program.
- A respiratory protection program administrator with the technical qualifications (training and experience) and administrative authority to develop, implement and update (as necessary) the respiratory protection program must be identified and so designated in the program.
- (1) The program administrator must ensure that all respirator users comply with the requirements of the program.
- (2) Program Administrator Qualifications. The program administrator must have the documented knowledge and experience to understand OSHA's respiratory protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134), evaluate respiratory hazards at the facility/project or similar facility/project, select appropriate respirators based on similar hazards as the facility/project hazards or potential hazard, and train employees on the use of similar respirators.
- Respiratory protection programs must address each of the following topics:
- (1) Methods used to identify and evaluate workplace respiratory hazards;
- (2) Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace;
- (3) Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators;
- (4) Fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators;
- (5) Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations;
- (6) Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, cartridge and canister change-out, repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators;
- (7) Procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators;
- (8) Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations;
- (9) Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing (donning and doffing) the respirator, any limitations on their use of the respirator, pre-use testing procedures, and respirator maintenance;
- (10) Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program; and
- (11) Project/facility-specific voluntary use guidelines and a requirement for voluntary users to learn and understand the contents of 29 CFR 1910.134 Appendix D, Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required under the Standard.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
5-9. Prior to use of the voluntary respirators, who must evaluate and approve respirators for use?
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